Web feed control for facsimile machines



April 19, 1955 A. G. cooLEY 2,706,672

WEB FEED CONTROL FOR FACSIMILE MACHINES Filed Oct. 1, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l 11v! 'EN TOR. Aus'T/n/ G. COOLEY Ivy/44%? A 770.QNEX

April 9, 1955 A. G. COOLEY 2,706,672

WEB FEED CONTROL FOR FACSIMILE MACHINES Filed Oct. 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AUST/N 0. COO/.5)

ATTORNE United States Patent 2,706,672 WEB FEED CONTROL FOR FACSIMILE MACHINES Austin G. Cooley, New York, N. Y., assignor to Times Facsimile Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 1, 1953, Serial No. 383,551 2 Claims. (Cl. 346-136) This invention relates to facsimile machines and more particularly to means for controlling the feeding of a recording web through such machines.

Features disclosed herein, but not claimed herein, are claimed in copending application Serial No. 383,552, filed October 1, 1953.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a novel web guiding and feeding mechanism for facsimile machines.

Another object is to provide a web feed control arrangement for facsimile machines wherein a supply roll of the web material is supported for bodily movement on an inclined support whereby the supply roll adjusts itself in abutting peripheral contact with a cooperating feed roll.

Another object is to provide an improved paper supply and feed arrangement for facsimile recorders of the socalled continuous type, whereby the supply roll is held in part by its own weight against a cooperating feed roller, and means are provided for preventing rebounding of the said supply roll when the facsimile machine is subjected to jolts or vibrations, such as are encountered on board naval vessels and the like.

A feature of the invention relates to a novel web supply and feed mechanism for facsimile machines whereby the insertion and threading of a new supply web can be effected expeditiously and accurately and wherein the weight of the supply roll holds it in engagement with the feed roll.

Another feature relates to the combination of a rotatable feed roll or platen and a cooperating web supply roll, in conjunction with a tiltably supported inclined frame along which the supply roll can slide or roll into engagement with the feed roll. The frame is provided with a manually operated member for changing the tilt of said frame whereby a new supply roll can be supported in relatively wide spaced to facilitate threading of the web around the feed roll.

A further feature relates to the novel organization, arrangement, and relative interconnection of parts which cooperate to provide an improved web loading and feeding control for facsimile machines and the like.

Other features and advantages not particularly enumerated will be apparent after a consideration of the following detailed descriptions and the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figs. 1 and 2 respectively are front elevational and top plan views of a facsimile recorder embodying the invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed views explaining the method of replacing the recording stylus;

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the smoke removal system;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detailed views of the web supporting, guiding and loading features according to the present invention.

Merely for purposes of explanation, the invention is illustrated and described in connection with a facsimile recorder of the multiple-stylus kind. It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other known types of recorders, especially those of the so-called continuous recording kind, namely the kind where the recording web or sheet is supplied to the recording point from a relatively large supply roll, so as to avoid manual reloading with an individual recording blank for each separate transmission.

The recorder shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is of the multiplestylus kind embodying certain features disclosed and relation to the feed roll P claimed in copending application Serial No. 319,021 and disclosed and claimed in prior Patents No. 2,643,173 and No. 2,643,174, assigned to the assignee of the present application, and to which reference may be made for a more detailed disclosure of the structural details of a typical facsimile machine.

In the particular embodiment shown, the recorder comprises four equally spaced styli 10 secured in a stylus assembly 11 as shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. Each stylus assembly is attached to a movable belt or carrier 12 which is supported by two rotatable wheels or pulleys 13 and 14 as shown in Fig. 1. The wheel or pulley 14 is driven by a motor (not shown) and serves to propel the styli across the width of the recording sheet 15 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

As explained more fully in said prior Patent No. 2,643,174, referred to above, the driving pulley 14 is driven by an induction or series motor tending to move the styli 10 above synchronous speed. In order to hold the progressive movement of the styli across the recording area at exactly synchronous speed, a synchronous rotating arm 18 is arranged to engage a projecting lug 19 on the stylus assembly (Fig. 4) to retard the speed of each stylus to synchronous speed. As will be clear from Fig. 1, each end of the synchronous speed-control arm or member 18 becomes alternately operative to engage one stylus assembly (Fig. 4) to retard the speed of each stylus to synchronous speed. As will be clear from Fig. 1, each end of the synchronous speed-control arm or member 18 becomes alternately operative to engage one stylus assembly after another and is in contact with the stylus mounting at the lug 19 during approximately one half of the revolution of the drive wheel 14. During this period the operative stylus 10 makes one complete excursion across the width of the recording sheet 15.

The synchronous speed-control member 18 is connected through a suitable clutch and phasing mechanism to a synchronous motor as described in said prior Cooley Patent No. 2,643,173. The phasing mechanism is further described, in a preferred form, in the patent to Cooley, No. 2,492,621, granted December 27, 1949. This mechanism comprises a rotatable member which is phased with the transmitter scanner by a phasing pulse, and which may be subsequently coupled to the recording mechanism to phase the latter at the commencement of the recording operation. Since the speed of the synchronous motor is maintained, as by a local source of controlled frequency at exactly synchronous speed, the recording system is maintained in synchronism with the scanning element of the remote transmitter.

The sheet 15 of recording paper is fed from the paper supply roll 21 (see Fig. 2) underneath the feed roll 22 which, in turn, is driven through reduction gearing 23 from the recorder drive mechanism to feed the paper through the recorder. The feed roll may be manually turned to advance the paper by turning thumb wheel 28 connected to feed roll by chain 29 (Fig. 1).

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the stylus assembly 11 comprises a hollow tubular member containing stylus 10 and which is removably mounted in a transverse aperture in the mounting block 25. In this manner the stylus can be readily replaced in an accurately indexed position when it becomes worn or damaged. The detailed construction of the stylus assembly shown by way of example is disclosed and claimed in the copending application of William Allwood, Serial No. 351,906, filed April 29, 1953. The mounting block 25 is supported on an insulating strip 26 of nylon or other stiff flexible insulating material carried by the bracket 27. The bracket 27 is welded or brazed to the metallic stylus carrier or belt 12 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The insulating strip 26 insulates the mounting block 25 and its associated stylus 10 from the belt. The signal current is applied to the stylus through the mounting block and a metallic guide 31, forming a contact rod which also serves to maintain the stylus against vertical movement or oscillation as it traverses the recording area.

As disclosed in the copending application of Austin G. Cooley, Serial No. 319,021 filed November 6, 1952, the stylus guide 31 is preferably an elongated magnet element, lubricated as by constructing the bearing face of porous bronze saturated with a lubricant. Thus, the mounting block 25, of magnetizable metal (steel) is held against the magnetic guide member 31 as the belt 12 carries the stylus assembly across the recording area, to maintain each stylus exactly in the recording path.

To prevent deforming or damaging either the stylus carrier 12 or the mounting assembly for the stylus including the flexible strip 26, when replacing the stylus, the holder 33 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 may be used. This holder is provided with a handle 34 and vertical projections or ears 35 adapted to embrace the stylus mounting block 25. A stationary bracket 36 underneath the belt is adapted to support or position the holder 33 when the latter is pushed into the position shown in Fig. 4. In this position with the stylus mounting block 25 firmly held by the holder 33, the stylus assembly 11 which is held in place by a suitable detent can be withdrawn from the block 25 and a new assembly inserted without the possibility of twisting or breaking the belt or stylus assembly. Preferably the holder 33 is held on the bracket 36, as by means of the holes 37 adapted to register with the pins 38 in the bracket.

Referring to Fig. 5, an improved arrangement for removing the dust and smoke emitted in recording comprises a blower nozzle 41 and an associated exhaust opening 42 adjacent the ends of the recording area. As shown more clearly in Fig. l, the blower nozzle 41 is located at the forward end of the path traversed by the stylus needle as it records on the recording sheet. Two separate fans or blowers may be employed as indicated at 43 and 44, the exhaust of the fan 44 being coupled to an activated carbon filter (not shown) or an exhaust opening outside of the room in which the equipment is located. It is found that this double nozzle arrangement is much more eflicient than the usual arrangement of a suction opening extending across the entire width of the recording area and in addition has the advantage that it does not obscure this area.

Extending parallel to the length of the feed roll is a round rod 45 supported for rotation in suitable fixed hearing brackets (not shown). Fastened to the rod 45 for rotation therewith are end plates 47 which also rotatably carry the feed roll 22. Fastened to each end plate is an inclined rail or guide 46 for the supply roll, each rail having an upstanding flange 46a to limit the lateral movement of the supply roll. Thus, the rails 46 are tiltable as a unit with the end plates 47.

The supply roll 21 is arranged to rest on the rails 46 so that when the plates 47 are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the supply roll 21 abuts by its own weight against the feed roll 22. Each of the plates 47 has an elongated slot 48 in which rides a pivoted cam rod 49 having an operating handle 50. Handle 50 projects forwardly of the machine to a point where it can be readily grasped by the operator or service man. When it becomes necessary to replace the supply roll 21, the handle 50 is raised from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7, enabling the exhausted supply roll 21 to be readily pushed or rolled back on the rails 46 from its dotted line position in Fig. 7. The new supply roll 21 can then be placed in position. In order to support the new roll 21 in its widely spaced relation to the feed roll 22, as shown in the full line position in Fig. 7, each of the end plates 47 has a rearwardly extending arm 53. Extending between these arms and supported for rotation therein are anti-friction ball bearing rollers 54, on which the new supply roll 21 can rest. In this position of the parts the rollers 54 are in substantially the same horizontal plane and the free end of the web may be readily brought downwardly between rollers 21 and 22 and inserted between the feed roller 22 and the pressure rolls 51. One of the important advantages resulting from this arrangement is that when the handle 50 is in the position shown in Fig. 7, not only is the supply roll 21 wide 1y spaced from the feed roll but also the feed roll 22 is moved backwardly from the relatively fragile stylus tip. This insures against accidental damage to the stylus which would otherwise be liable to snag in the feed roll, and if the feed roll were accidentally moved during the loading of a new supply roll it might destroy the stylus tip.

Since the weight of the full supply roll 21 is now carried by the rollers 54, and since roll 21 is out of frictional contact with roll 22, the supply roll 21 may be easily rotated by pulling on the threaded free end of the web 15. When the web has been threaded and brought forwardly around the feed roll, the handle 50 is lowered to the position shown in Fig. 6 whereupon the forward one of the rollers 54 is substantially lowered with respect to the other roller 54 and the supply roll 21 rolls or slides forwardly on the rails 46 until it presses by its own weight against the feed roll 22. The free end of the web 15 can then be finally pulled to take up any slack that may have risen between the two rolls. The operation of handle 50 to its lowermost position also moves the feed roll or platen 22 forwardly, to bring web 15 into recording relation with stylus 10. The frictional contact between the recording web 15 and the positively driven feed roll 22, causes the web to be fed at the desired rate during recording.

For stationary installations, the foregoing embodiment is amply satisfactory to maintain the supply roll against the feed roll. In certain kinds of installations, for example aboard naval vessels and the like, where the machine may be subjected to rolling or excessive jars, it may be necessary to provide additional means to supplement the weight of the feed roll so as to prevent it rebounding or moving away from the feed roll during recording.

In order to maintain the supply roll in contact with the feed roll 22 when the machine is subjected to such tilting or violent pitching motion as on board ship, a forked member 57 may be provided as shown in Fig. 8 at each end of the recorder to engage a shaft or projection 58 extending from each end of the supply roll 21 or fastened thereto. The forked arm 57, as shown, is pivoted at 59 and urged forward by a spring 61 to maintain the supply roll in contact with the feed roll 22. A bar 62 extending across the width of the machine underneath the supply roll may also be provided to hold the forked arm 57 in its forward position and prevent the supply roll 21 from moving away from contact with the feed roll 22 as a result of pitching or tilting of the recorder. The bar 62 becomes wedged between the arms 57 and the stationary brackets 63, and drops down as the supply roll 21 is consumed so as to maintain the arms 57 locked and thereby hold the supply roll at all times against the feed roll 22. The locking bar 62 may be provided with a handle 65 for lifting the bar out of its wedged position to release the supply roll when the recorder is to be reloaded.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a facsimile machine, a shiftable frame, a web supply roll slidably supported on said frame, a platen roll rotatably supported on said frame, means to shift said frame to a position wherein the supply roll automatically presses by its own weight against said platen roll, a pair of pivotally mounted arms located adjacent the opposite ends of the supply roll and each arm having one end held in spring-pressed engagement with said supply roll tending to urge said supply roll forwardly towards said platen roll, a fixed stop, a locking bar extending parallel to said supply roll and mounted for wedging by gravity between said fixed stop and said arms to lock said supply roll against rebounding away from said platen roll.

2. A facsimile machine according to claim 1 in which said locking bar is movable and provided with a handle for removing it from wedging engagement between said fixed stop and said arms to release said supply roll for reloading the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,294 Parham Ian. 6, 1914 2,622,817 Cohen et al Dec. 23, 1952 2,644,490 Harden July 7, 1953 2,671,710 Bowditch Mar. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 302,656 Germany Apr. 5, 1917 

